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State Wildlife Grant Program (F13AS00146) - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the State Wildlife Grant Program (F13AS00146)?

The State Wildlife Grant Program is a mandatory U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant program that provides federal funding to eligible jurisdictions to conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat. A central emphasis is supporting conservation that goes beyond traditional game species by explicitly including species that are not hunted or fished.

Who administers this grant opportunity?

The administering agency is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. FWS).

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 15.634 (State Wildlife Grants).

What type of funding instrument is this?

This opportunity uses a grant as the funding instrument (FundingInstrumentType: Grant).

What activity category does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity is listed under the Natural Resources activity category.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to state governments as defined in the announcement, including eligible U.S. states, the District of Columbia, U.S. commonwealths, and U.S. territories.

What is the main conservation focus of the program?

The program is designed to help jurisdictions build and carry out coordinated, science-based conservation efforts addressing wildlife declines and habitat threats at a statewide (or territory-wide) scale, with explicit inclusion of species that are not hunted or fished.

What types of projects can be funded?

Funded work falls into two broad categories: planning and implementation.

What qualifies as a planning project under this grant?

Planning projects must directly support the development or revision of the state Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan, commonly called the Wildlife Action Plan. Any planning activity funded under this opportunity must tie back to improving, updating, or modifying that plan in a way that the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can approve.

What qualifies as an implementation project under this grant?

Implementation projects are on-the-ground and programmatic actions carried out to implement the strategies and priorities identified in a jurisdiction's Wildlife Action Plan. Examples described include habitat restoration and management, targeted conservation actions for at-risk species, and monitoring and research that directly informs management decisions, as well as other measures that demonstrably advance the plan's goals.

How does the Wildlife Action Plan relate to funding decisions?

The Wildlife Action Plan is central to this program. Planning funds must support developing or revising the plan, while implementation funds support carrying out the strategies and priorities identified in the plan.

Are there priority species or habitats the program expects recipients to focus on?

Yes. A key expectation is that funds should be directed first toward species with the greatest conservation need, and that states should consider the broader funding landscape to prioritize where needs are highest and other resources are limited.

Is the program intended to duplicate other well-funded conservation efforts?

No. The grant is intended to fill conservation gaps and prioritize species and habitats where needs are highest and other resources are limited, rather than duplicating well-funded efforts.

Are wildlife education activities eligible for funding?

Wildlife education is generally not eligible as a stand-alone purpose under this grant. A narrow exception is allowed when an education element is minor or incidental but still critical to the success of an otherwise eligible project, directly supports conservation outcomes for species of greatest conservation need and their habitats, and is consistent with development or implementation of the Wildlife Action Plan.

Are law enforcement activities eligible for funding?

Law enforcement is generally not eligible as a stand-alone purpose under this grant. A narrow exception is allowed when a law enforcement element is minor or incidental but still critical to the success of an otherwise eligible project, directly supports conservation outcomes for species of greatest conservation need and their habitats, and is consistent with development or implementation of the Wildlife Action Plan.

Is there a cost share or match requirement?

Yes. The notice indicates a cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning recipients are expected to contribute non-federal funds or allowable in-kind support in accordance with program rules.

How much total funding is estimated to be available?

The estimated total funding listed in the opportunity synopsis is $47,728,234.

How many awards are expected?

The opportunity synopsis lists an expected 50 awards.

Is there a minimum or maximum award amount?

The award floor and ceiling are both listed as $0. This typically indicates that individual award sizes vary based on allocation formulas or other program determinations rather than fixed minimums or maximums stated in the synopsis.

When could applications be submitted for this opportunity?

The application window described allows submissions anytime between October 1, 2012 and August 31, 2014.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

The opportunity is described as archived on October 1, 2014.

Where is the opportunity posted?

The general posting is referenced through Grants.gov.

Who can be contacted for access issues or assistance with the full announcement?

The contact listed is Judy Driscoll, Grants Fiscal Officer, at 413-253-8409 or judydriscoll@fws.gov.